It would be difficult to find anyone who hadn’t either heard the name Ruth Bader Ginsburg, heard her nickname “the Notorious RBG,” or seen one of Kate McKinnon’s SNL skits poking fun at the seemingly eternal 86-year old Supreme Court… Read More ›
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“We Are Boats” explores a metaphysical current that keeps us moving from port to port.
For as long as humans have existed, there’s been a longing to explain that which we don’t comprehend. This longing gave rise to myths and legends born out of trying to rationalize why the sun sets and rises as well… Read More ›
“Mary Poppins Returns” leans too hard into homage to create a new experience.
The original 1964 Mary Poppins tale is more remembered for its music and charm than its family-centric story. The use of animation mixed with live-action created a cinematic experience filled with incredible wonder, the likes of which were incredibly few…. Read More ›
Slow and relentless, “Burning” juxtaposes the mystery of humanity and nature.
Though it didn’t go on to the 91st Academy Awards, director Lee Chang-dong’s adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s short story Barn Burning still had a good year with 30 wins and 104 nominations from various global festivals and events. The opening… Read More ›
Fun runs “Rampant” among zombies and classism in ancient China.
When the first description of a film includes something like “from the studios which brought you [insert film title here],” it’s rarely a good sign. Rather than trying to stand on its own merit, this new property is relying heavily… Read More ›
Patient and unsettling, crime thriller “Holiday” asks unexpectedly surprising philosophical questions of morality.
First premiering at Sundance 2018, the Isabella Eklöf-directed and co-written crime thriller Holiday spent most of that year jumping from festival to festival without much in the way of a large release. Eklöf’s incredible direction, her script with co-writer Johanne… Read More ›
Love is what matters “At the End of the Day”.
The Christian phrase “love the sinner, hate the sin” implies that it’s possible to separate the person from their actions, and that, as individuals, those who follow the word of the Bible are capable of transcending their discomfort or disdain… Read More ›
Ralph’s journey of self-worth continues when “Ralph Breaks the Internet”.
Walt Disney has virtually perfected the method of tapping into the consciousness of its audience to tickle those parts that bring us the most joy. Whether through animating classic stories like The Little Mermaid and Cinderella or crafting live-action iterations… Read More ›
Ariel’s adventure on land and sea gets a new coat of paint and bonus features in “The Little Mermaid” 30th Anniversary Edition.
The decision to pick up the 30th Anniversary Edition of “The Little Mermaid” really comes down to personal preference. If you already own a copy, the bonus features aren’t likely to entice you and the idea of upgrading may not appeal. However, if you don’t own “The Little Mermaid” yet or the idea of digging into the process of its creation sparks interest, heck, even if the notion of seeing the film presented in greater detail and vividness is enough, then there’s little to be disappointed by in Disney’s eighth addition to their Signature Collection.
“Iceman: The Time Traveler” is another fun Donnie Yen feature, despite being a weak sequel.
Donnie Yen is one of the most prolific actors in Chinese cinema. Though modern American audiences are most familiar with Yen from his performance as Chirrut Îmwe in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Yen’s been working in films… Read More ›
Documentary “Maria by Callas” is a movie for her, by her.
The intent of a documentary is often more than merely to inform about a subject, but to immerse the audience deep into the world of the subject to create empathy, along with understanding. The typical approach is one in which… Read More ›
Found footage horror film “Haunted Hospital: Heilstätten” offers a meta commentary on Internet culture.
When executed well, the found footage subgenre can be an incredibly immersive experience, spellbinding the audience and convincing them that everything they’re about to witness is not just real, but urgently so. The most famous of these films is 1999’s… Read More ›
“The Rising Sun” provides a glimpse into the lives of a nomadic breakdancing troupe.
The concept of a nomadic, bohemian lifestyle is undeniably alluring in its defying of conventional ideas of society regarding employment, responsibility, and family in order to create something unique and personal by throwing off the shackles of conformity to pursue… Read More ›
Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” is too dour for Christmas, too artificial to feel magical.
The Nutcracker is a famous ballet known the world over for its delicacy and grace in performance and the beauty of Tchaikovsky’s music. In fact, it’s safe to say that more people are aware of the story in connection to… Read More ›
“The Hate U Give” can end with us.
There’s one phrase that runs through my head every day of every week of every year: You can’t see them all. At some point, trying to keep up with all of the films released in a year in theaters, digitally,… Read More ›
Make your reservations now for some “Bad Times at the El Royale”.
Writer/director Drew Goddard is no stranger to a good mystery. Having made his bones writing for shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Alias, he went on to write 2008’s Cloverfield and co-write 2012’s The Cabin in the Woods,… Read More ›
Film noir “The Lightest Darkness” toys with time and memory.
There’s something truly delicious about a film which toys with your expectations; a film possessing the temerity to state its own vision, even as it identifies the areas in which it knows the audience is looking. Rather than focus the… Read More ›
An unexpected holiday treat, consider decking the halls with “Jet Trash”.
Christmas films come in all shapes and sizes. There are the traditional ones, such as White Christmas, A Christmas Story, A Miracle on 34th Street, and A Charlie Brown Christmas, which tend to put carolers in a festive mood. Then,… Read More ›
“Disney’s Christopher Robin” is a bit of old which feels refreshingly new.
As children, all we ever want to do is grow up. We’re told “not yet” and “not now” as we struggle to figure out who we are among the rules and regulations adults put on us. Within our imaginations, however,… Read More ›
“[Cargo]” is an allegorical tale which doesn’t quite come together.
There’s something about a good anti-hero that makes audiences fall in love. Whether it’s watching the slow moral corruption of Michael Corleone, the oft-horrific charm of Hannibal Lecter, or the nihilist machismo of Tyler Durden, the well-executed anti-hero brings a… Read More ›